The three-dimensional (3D) structural design of solar evaporators has been considered as one of the most promising approaches toward enhancing photothermal performance by improving light absorption and the available evaporation area. Herein, polypyrroledecorated 3D array structural sunflower discs (PPy-SFD) were prepared for solar steam generation, thereby turning SFD biomass waste into valuable materials. The SFD can absorb a majority of the incident light because of numerous light reflections from each natural 3D array structural unit, and therefore behaves similar to a blackbody. Moreover, a facile pyrrole polymerization method was introduced to further improve SFD light absorption and enhance the photothermal performance of SFD. This circumvents expensive consumption fabrication processes. The black PPy-decorated SFD shows a light absorption of 99.3% across the entire solar spectrum coupled with mechanical stability. During photothermal evaporation, the increased evaporation area of the 3D array structural SFD could effectively reduce heat loss to the environment because the inherent microporous structure of the SFD leaves and cellulose hydrophilicity provide channels for water transport. The PPy-SFD-based evaporator could reach an evaporation rate of 1.74 kg m −2 h −1 under 1 sun. Thus, the 3D array structural PPy-SFD is a possible candidate for high-efficiency photothermal evaporators.

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Interfacial solar steam generation (ISSG) is a promising and energy-effective strategy for freshwater generation. However, the balance between demand and supply of water at the surface of photothermal materials is...

In this study, two novel composite membranes containing nanoscale ZIF-8 and polyphenylene sulfide (PPS) nonwoven fabric were prepared via hydrothermal (PPS-ZIF-8) and biomimetic mineralization (PPS-ZIF-8-BSA; BSA, bovine serum albumin) approaches. The biomimetic mineralization approach in particular was extremely rapid and mild, and crystalline ZIF-8 was coated on the PPS substrate in only a few seconds at room temperature. The maximum iodine adsorption capacities of the PPS-ZIF-8 and PPS-ZIF-8-BSA membranes were 2.51 and 2.07 g/g, respectively. The composite fibrous membranes were able to capture trace iodine vapor under differential pressures ranging from 0 to 1000 Pa without almost any iodine vapor leakage. The composite membranes can be applied in harsh environments because of the excellent stability of ZIF-8 and the PPS high-performance fibers. This study provides a promising strategy to fabricate novel adsorption materials for the collection of radioactive iodine during nuclear waste disposal.

Structural design of the solar‐absorbing layer has been considered as one of the most direct and effective approaches for improving the solar steam generation performance by maximizing the absorption of sunlight, but great challenges in manipulation simplification and structure controllability still remain. Herein, a polyester (PET) fabric covered with a vertically aligned 3D tower‐like ferrosoferric oxide (Fe3O4) array via a convenient magnetically driven spray‐coating method is reported, and both the spatial density and height of the Fe3O4 array are tunable upon spraying time. It shows an extremely high solar absorbance (98.6%) in the entire solar spectrum, which is superior to the corresponding 2D Fe3O4 structure (91.1%). Combining the obtained 3D Fe3O4/PET with a yolk‐shell hydrophobic/superhydrophilic modified melamine‐formaldehyde (mMF) sponge, the carefully designed and fabricated 3D Fe3O4/PET‐mMF evaporator can realize a high water evaporation rate of 1.59 kg m−2 h−1 under 1 kW m−2 solar illumination, outperforming most related solar steam generation systems. With the advantages of cost‐effectiveness, high evaporation rate, reliable endurance, and structural controllability, this 3D structural design provides an avenue to build up high‐performance solar energy‐driven water steam generation systems.